Article
Immunology
Andrea J. Zimmer, Erica Stohs, Jane Meza, Christopher Arnold, John W. Baddley, Pranatharthi Chandrasekar, Zeinab El Boghdadly, Carlos A. Gomez, Eileen K. Maziarz, Jose G. Montoya, Steven Pergam, Kenneth Rolston, Michael J. Satlin, Gowri Satyanarayana, Shmuel Shoham, Lynne Strasfeld, Randy Taplitz, Thomas J. Walsh, Jo-Anne H. Young, Yuning Zhang, Alison G. Freifeld
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology, antibiotic resistance patterns, and clinical outcomes of bloodstream infections in US cancer patients. The results showed that cefepime or piperacillin-tazobactam, as recommended by US guidelines, remain effective empirical treatment for high-risk cancer patients with febrile neutropenia who are stable at presentation.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Luciana Rodrigues Pires de Campos, Marina Farrel Cortes, Beatriz Deo, Camila Rizek, Sania Santos, Lauro Perdigao, Silvia Figueiredo Costa
Summary: Mechanical ventilation, surgery, and hemodialysis are independent risk factors for multidrug-resistant bloodstream infections in critically ill trauma patients. Carbapenemase (KPC) is the main mechanism of resistance, and cross-transmission may contribute to its spread.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sara M. Karaba, Katherine E. Goodman, Joe Amoah, Sara E. Cosgrove, Pranita D. Tamma
Summary: A risk score was developed to predict hematologic malignancy patients at increased risk for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bloodstream infections, with the knowledge-driven risk score outperforming the automatically selected variable risk score. Further validation with a larger cohort is needed before broad clinical application.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alba Bergas, Adaia Albasanz-Puig, Ana Fernandez-Cruz, Marina Machado, Andres Novo, David van Duin, Carolina Garcia-Vidal, Morgan Hakki, Isabel Ruiz-Camps, Jose Luis del Pozo, Chiara Oltolini, Catherine DeVoe, Lubos Drgona, Oriol Gasch, Malgorzata Mikulska, Pilar Martin-Davila, Maddalena Peghin, Lourdes Vazquez, Julia Laporte-Amargos, Xavier Dura-Miralles, Natalia Pallares, Eva Gonzalez-Barca, Ana Alvarez-Uria, Pedro Puerta-Alcalde, Juan Aguilar-Company, Francisco Carmona-Torre, Teresa Daniela Clerici, Sarah B. Doernberg, Lucia Petrikova, Silvia Capilla, Laura Magnasco, Jesus Fortun, Nadia Castaldo, Jordi Carratala, Carlota Gudiol
Summary: This study assessed the characteristics and outcomes of neutropenic hematologic patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection treated with ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T). The results showed that treatment with C/T was associated with less need for mechanical ventilation and reduced 7-day and 30-day mortality rates in these patients.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Nina J. Zhu, Timothy M. Rawson, Siddharth Mookerjee, James R. Price, Frances Davies, Jonathan Otter, Paul Aylin, Russell Hope, Mark Gilchrist, Yeeshika Shersing, Alison Holmes
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the patterns of community- and hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. There was a high incidence of hospital-acquired bacteremia during the COVID-19 waves, especially in SARS-CoV-2-negative elective patients.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Anna Maria Peri, Felicity Edwards, Andrea Henden, Patrick N. A. Harris, Mark D. Chatfield, David L. Paterson, Kevin B. Laupland
Summary: Knowledge of the epidemiology of bloodstream infection in haematology patients is crucial for patient management. This study investigates the epidemiology of bloodstream infection in haematological malignancy patients in Queensland over the last two decades, revealing a high prevalence of neutropenic patients and gram-negative pathogens as the main causative agents, with increasing antimicrobial resistance.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pedro Puerta-Alcalde, Juan Ambrosioni, Mariana Chumbita, Marta Hernandez-Meneses, Nicole Garcia-Pouton, Celia Cardozo, Estela Moreno-Garcia, Francesc Marco, Josep Mensa, Montserrat Rovira, Jordi Esteve, Jose A. Martinez, Felipe Garcia, Josep Mallolas, Alex Soriano, Jose M. Miro, Carolina Garcia-Vidal
Summary: This study compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of bloodstream infections in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia with and without HIV infection, revealing that HIV infection affects the epidemiology and clinical presentation of patients, leading to higher mortality. However, HIV infection itself was not associated with mortality.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dajana Lendak, Pedro Puerta-Alcalde, Estela Moreno-Garcia, Mariana Chumbita, Nicole Garcia-Pouton, Celia Cardozo, Laura Morata, Maria Suarez-Lledo, Marta Hernandez-Meneses, Lucio Ghiglione, Francesc Marco, Jose Antonio Martinez, Josep Mensa, Ivana Urosevic, Alex Soriano, Carolina Garcia-Vidal
Summary: The study found a significant shift in the epidemiology of CRBSIs in onco-hematological neutropenic patients, with an increase in Gram-negative bacilli infections and multidrug-resistant cases. Independent factors associated with GNB-CRBSIs include longer duration of catheter placement, older age, and prior use of penicillins. Additionally, inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatments led to an increase in mortality rates over time.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Jessica Waters, Andrew F. F. Shorr
Summary: Newer antibiotics have been developed and proven effective in treating various types of multidrug-resistant infections, but there is limited information on their efficacy specifically for bloodstream infections.
Article
Microbiology
Abi Manesh Sathya Kumar, Mithun Mohan George, Kundakarla Bhanuprasad, Grace Mary John, Anu Korula, Aby Abraham, Vikram Mathews, Uday Prakash Kulkarni, Chaitra Shankar, Prasanna Samuel Premkumar, Binila Chacko, K. Subramani, George M. Varghese, V. Balaji, Biju George
Summary: This study evaluated the role of follow-up blood cultures (FUBC) positivity in predicting outcomes among patients with neutropenia and carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bloodstream infections (CRGNBSI). Among the 155 patients in the study cohort, the 30-day mortality rate was 47.7%, and 43.8% of patients had persistent bacteremia. Patients with persistent bacteremia had a higher mortality rate compared to those without.
ANNALS OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND ANTIMICROBIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hiromi Nishi, Kouji Ohta, Yuri Kuramoto, Hideo Shigeishi, Taiji Obayashi, Yukio Yoshioka, Masaru Konishi, Shuichi Munenaga, Hisao Nagoshi, Tetsumi Yoshida, Noriyasu Fukushima, Naoya Kakimoto, Hiroki Ohge, Hidemi Kurihara, Tatsuo Ichinohe, Hiroyuki Kawaguchi
Summary: This study found a relationship between the oral environment and febrile neutropenia (FN) during chemotherapy, with periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) being an independent factor associated with FN onset. Therefore, periodontitis treatment before starting cancer treatment is recommended as supportive care for preventing FN during chemotherapy.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Marie Clemenceau, Samira Ahmed-Elie, Aurelie Vilfaillot, Richard Chocron, Fabrice Compain, David Lebeaux, Patrick Grohs
Summary: The study found that the spread of ESBL producers in the community has an impact on the management of patients with bloodstream infections involving Enterobacterales in emergency departments. The rate of appropriate treatment decreased, and using combination therapy was more appropriate than monotherapy.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Davide Mattei, Valentina Baretta, Annarita Mazzariol, Laura Maccacaro, Rita Balter, Ada Zaccaron, Elisa Bonetti, Matteo Chinello, Virginia Vitale, Giulia Caddeo, Maria Pia Esposto, Vincenza Pezzella, Davide Gibellini, Gloria Tridello, Simone Cesaro
Summary: Bloodstream infections after chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This study analyzed 154 cases of bloodstream infections in onco-hematological patients, highlighting the prevalence of bacterial infections and the importance of appropriate antibiotic treatment.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Mariana Chumbita, Pedro Puerta-Alcalde, Carlota Gudiol, Nicole Garcia-Pouton, Julia Laporte-Amargos, Andrea Ladino, Adaia Albasanz-Puig, Cristina Helguera, Alba Bergas, Ignacio Grafia, Enric Sastre, Maria Suarez-Lledo, Xavier Dura, Carlota Jordan, Francesc Marco, Maria Condom, Pedro Castro, Jose A. Martinez, Josep Mensa, Alex Soriano, Jordi Carratala, Carolina Garcia-Vidal
Summary: Septic shock in febrile neutropenic patients with bloodstream infections is associated with extremely high mortality, especially when inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatment is administered. Combination therapy, including an active beta-lactam and amikacin, results in the best outcomes.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frederick Chukwumeze, Annick Lenglet, Ruth Olubiyo, Abdulhakeem Mohammed Lawal, Bukola Oluyide, Gbemisola Oloruntuyi, Cono Ariti, Diana Gomez, Harriet Roggeveen, Chijioke Nwankwo, Nwogu Ahamba Augustine, Abiodun Egwuenu, Guy Maloba, Mark Sherlock, Shoaib Muhammad, Heiman Wertheim, Joost Hopman, Kate Clezy
Summary: This study investigated pediatric community-acquired bloodstream infections in sub Saharan African humanitarian contexts, with 234 cases of severe sepsis patients included in the analysis. There were 39 positive blood cultures, with 14 Gram positive and 18 Gram negative bacterial isolates, including 5 isolates resistant to empiric antibiotics.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Abdullah Tarik Aslan, Murat Akova
Summary: With the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, traditional treatment approaches are generally ineffective. Newly approved medications should be considered as first-line treatment options, while colistin can still be used as an alternative therapy, especially for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant bacteria. Personalized medicine should be considered in the treatment approach.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Gokhan Metan, Omrum Uzun, Gulcin Telli Dizman, Meliha Cagla Sonmezer, Ahmet Cagkan Inkaya, Gulsen Hazirolan, Murat Akova, Serhat Unal
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rafael Canton, Murat Akova, Karen Langfeld, Didem Torumkuney
Summary: In response to rising antimicrobial resistance, a multinational group was formed to target primary care antibiotic prescribing. The Consensus Principles proposed by the group in 2002 remain important in achieving appropriate prescribing and curbing antimicrobial resistance.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Renato Pascale, Alice Toschi, Abdullah Tarik Aslan, Giulia Massaro, Angelo Maccaro, Davide Fabbricatore, Andrea Dell'Aquila, Marco Ripa, Mehmet Emirhan Isik, Yesim Uygun Kazmaz, Saverio Iacopino, Marta Camici, Francesco Perna, Karolina Akinosoglou, Arta Karruli, Matthaios Papadimitriou-Olivgeris, Bircan Kayaaslan, Yesim Aybar Bilir, Emin Evren Ozcan, Oguzhan Ekrem Turan, Muhammed Cihan Isik, Maria Teresa Perez-Rodriguez, Belen Loeches Yague, Alejandro Martin Quiros, Mesut Yilmaz, Sabine Petersdorf, Tom De Potter, Emanuele Durante-Mangoni, Murat Akova, Antonio Curnis, Dino Gibertoni, Igor Diemberger, Luigia Scudeller, Pierluigi Viale, Maddalena Giannella
Summary: This study investigated the risk factors and clinical characteristics of Gram-negative bacteria CIED infections. It found that obesity, a high number of comorbidities, and right subclavian vein implantation site were associated with an increased risk of GNB-CIED infection. Prompt therapeutic intervention guided by FDG PET/CT is suggested for patients with GNB-CIED infection due to the poorer outcome observed in this group.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
A. Pagliuca, M. Akova
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Taha Koray Sahin, Enes Erul, Melek Seren Aksun, Meliha Cagla Sonmezer, Serhat Unal, Murat Akova
Summary: This study surveyed 283 physicians in Turkey about their knowledge, attitude, concerns, and vaccine acceptance for monkeypox. The results showed that 32.5% of the physicians had a good level of knowledge and 31.4% planned to have the monkeypox vaccine. Female physicians and older individuals were more likely to be knowledgeable about monkeypox. Physicians from internal medicine divisions, those who learned about monkeypox during medical school or residency, and those previously exposed to COVID-19 had a higher knowledge score of monkeypox. Physicians with a good knowledge score were more worried about monkeypox compared to COVID-19.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Abdullah Tarik Aslan, Murat Akova, David L. Paterson
Summary: Although new-generation antimicrobials have replaced polymyxins in carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections, polymyxins are still needed for carbapanem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections and in settings where novel agents are not readily available. Despite their potent in vitro activity, the clinical utility of polymyxins is significantly limited by their pharmacokinetic properties and nephrotoxicity risk. There is significant interest in developing next-generation polymyxins with activity against colistin-resistant strains and lower toxicity.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kirsten Schmidt-Hellerau, Claudia Raichle, Maria Ruethrich, Joerg J. Vehreschild, Julia Lanznaster, Susana M. Nunes de Miranda, Claudia Bausewein, Maria J. G. T. Vehreschild, Carolin E. M. Koll, Steffen Simon, Kerstin Hellwig, Bjoern-Erik O. Jensen, Norma Jung
Summary: This study aimed to describe the characteristics and types of specialized palliative care (SPC) provided to SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. The study found that patients receiving SPC were older and had more comorbidities, but 59% had a life expectancy of more than 1 year. The main symptoms were dyspnea, delirium, and excessive tiredness. Most patients receiving SPC died during the hospital stay, and SPC mainly focused on symptom control and family psychological support, with a higher emphasis on allowing personal contacts with friends and relatives.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Alexis Tabah, Niccolo Buetti, Quentin Staiquly, Stephane Ruckly, Murat Akova, Abdullah Tarik Aslan, Marc Leone, Andrew Conway Morris, Matteo Bassetti, Kostoula Arvaniti, Jeffrey Lipman, Ricard Ferrer, Haibo Qiu, Jose-Artur Paiva, Pedro Povoa, Liesbet De Bus, Jan De Waele, Farid Zand, Mohan Gurjar, Adel Alsisi, Khalid Abidi, Hendrik Bracht, Yoshiro Hayashi, Kyeongman Jeon, Muhammed Elhadi, Francois Barbier, Jean-Francois Timsit
Summary: This study investigated hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HA-BSI) in 2600 adult patients from 333 ICUs in 52 countries. HA-BSI were frequently caused by Gram-negative, carbapenem-resistant, and difficult-to-treat pathogens. Antimicrobial resistance led to delays in adequate antimicrobial therapy, resulting in high mortality rates.
INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Rashad Ismayilov, Betul Nur Acar, Berkay Kapar, Arda Erdut, Murat Ozdede, Arzu Saglam, Murat Akova
Summary: This article presents a case of Q fever endocarditis accompanied by immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis from Turkey. The case illustrates the difficulties in clinical diagnosis and emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among physicians about Q fever. The authors suggest considering Q fever in patients with lymphoproliferative disease-like findings, fever of unknown origin, and culture-negative endocarditis.
MIKROBIYOLOJI BULTENI
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christos Argyropoulos, Janina Leckler, Jon Salmanton-Garcia, Marinos Constantinou, Alexandra Alexandrou, Sophia Themistocleous, Evgenia Noula, George Shiamakkides, Andria Nearchou, Fiona A. Stewart, Kerstin Albus, Markela Koniordou, Ioannis Kopsidas, Orly Spivak, Margot Hellemans, Greet Hendrickx, Ruth Joanna Davis, Anna Maria Azzini, Paula Valle Simon, Antonio Javier Carcas-Sansuan, Helena Hervius Askling, Sirkka Vene, Jana Baranda Prellezo, Elena alvarez-Barco, Alan J. Macken, Romina Di Marzo, Catarina Luis, Ole F. Olesen, Jesus A. Frias Iniesta, Imre Barta, Krisztina Toth, Murat Akova, Marc M. J. Bonten, Miriam Cohen-Kandli, Rebecca Jane Cox, Lenka Souckova, Petr Husa, Ligita Jancoriene, Odile Launay, Jens Lundgren, Patrick Mallon, Charis Armeftis, Laura Marques, Pontus Naucler, Jordi Ochando, Evelina Tacconelli, Pierre van Damme, Theoklis Zaoutis, Sanne Hofstraat, Patricia Bruijning-Verhagen, Markus Zeitlinger, Oliver A. Cornely, Zoi Dorothea Pana
Summary: This study aims to develop a toolkit that provides trustworthy information and promotes positive attitudes towards vaccine trials, with a focus on inclusiveness and equity. The produced materials, including brochures, videos, and puzzles, inform the public about the benefits and risks of trial participation and aim to build confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines.
JMIR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SURVEILLANCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Salvador Perez-Galera, Jose M. Bravo-Ferrer, Maria Paniagua, Tomislav Kostyanev, Marlieke E. A. de Kraker, Jan Feifel, Jesus Sojo-Dorado, Joost Schotsman, Rafael Canton, George L. Daikos, Biljana Carevic, Gorana Dragovac, Lionel K. Tan, Lul Raka, Adriana Hristea, Pierluigi Viale, Murat Akova, Jose Maria Reguera, Lucia Valiente de Santis, Julian Torre-Cisneros, Angela Cano, Emmanuel Roilides, Lili Radulovic, Cenk Kirakli, Evelyn Shaw, Matthew E. Falagas, Vicente Pintado, Herman Goossens, Marc J. Bonten, Belen Gutierrez-Gutierrez, Jesus Rodroguez-Bano
Summary: A study found that the main risk factors for CRE infections in hospitals with high incidence included previous colonization, urinary catheter use, and exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ece Tavukcuoglu, Hamdullah Yanik, Mubaida Parveen, Sila Uluturk, Mine Durusu-Tanriover, Ahmet Cagkan Inkaya, Murat Akova, Serhat Unal, Gunes Esendagli
Summary: This study evaluates the functional capacity of CD4(+) and CD8(+) memory T cells obtained from volunteers vaccinated with an aluminum-adjuvanted inactivated whole-virion SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The results show that memory T cells from vaccinated individuals significantly proliferate and secrete IFN-γ in response to S1 stimulation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Abdullah Tarik Aslan, Murat Akova
Summary: Numerous studies have shown that combination therapy of piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin is associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury. However, the exact mechanisms and causality of this association are still unclear. Although there are limitations in the current studies, preventive measures can be taken to reduce the risk of acute kidney injury when using this combination therapy.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Caglayan Merve Ayaz, Gulsen Hazirolan, Banu Sancak, Gulsen Hascelik, Murat Akova
Summary: This study evaluated the factors associated with Gram-negative bacteremia (GNB) and mortality in patients with hematological malignancies (HMs) in a high-resistance setting. Male gender, duration of hospitalization and neutropenia before the febrile neutropenic episode, leukemias and allogeneic transplant recipients, radiotherapy, receiving glucocorticosteroids, colonization with resistant microorganisms were found to be independently associated with GNB. All-cause mortality and 30-day mortality were higher in bacteremic patients compared to non-bacteremic controls. Sepsis, duration of hospitalization before the febrile neutropenic episode, carbapenem-resistant GNB, and inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatment were associated with 30-day mortality.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
